LONDON: Thomas Vermaelen’s dramatic added-time winner moved Arsenal to within one point of third-placed Tottenham Hotspur after a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium Monday.
Arsene Wenger’s side looked as though they would stumble in their efforts to increase the pressure on their near neighbours as the visitors hung on stubbornly until the dying moments.
Robin van Persie had scored his 33rd goal of the season a minute after Hatem Ben Arfa had given the visitors a 14th minute lead.
But Arsenal were forced to wait until the final moments of the game before Vermaelen finished off a superb attacking move by sweeping the ball home past Tim Krul to secure a fifth successive league victory for the home side. Newcastle remain in sixth position but with an eight-point gap not separating them from Arsenal, their hopes of a top four finish have effectively been ended.
Back to back victories over close rivals Tottenham and Liverpool had revitalised Arsenal’s Premier League campaign. And while they narrowly failed to overturn a four-goal deficit from the first leg of their Champions League clash with AC Milan, the 3-0 second leg victory had only strengthened the Gunners’ growing confidence.
They could take nothing for granted, however, against an improving Newcastle side and the visitors confirmed their threat after just 14 minutes when they took the lead through Ben Arfa. (Agencies)